Continuing Education Programs

Only continuing education programs approved by the SCPEAC may be used to fulfill the continuing education requirement for South Carolina planning officials. The term "program" includes training in any format that complies with the provisions in Section 6-29-1340 of the South Carolina Code of Laws as interpreted by the SCPEAC.

Continuing Education Requirements:

Appointed officials who serve on a planning commission, board of zoning appeals, or board of architectural review, and professional employees who are employed as a planning professional, zoning administrator, zoning official, or as a deputy or assistant to these positions are required to attend at least three (3) hours of continuing education annually.

SCPEAC Continuing Education Program Approval Policy and Procedure

Approved Continuing Education Sponsors

Approved Continuing Education Instructors

Approved Continuing Education Programs

County or Municipal Governing Body:

Each county or municipal governing body is responsible for arranging 3-hours of continuing education training each year for their staff, planning, zoning, and architectural review officials.

There are three options for Continuing Education Program approvals:

1.) Use an approved CE Sponsor Organization or an organization may submit an application to become an Approved Continuing Education Sponsor

2.) Approval as a Continuing Education Instructor

Submitted by a planning director or planning staff member with the appropriate educational requirements.

See Policy and Procedure document.

3.) Approval of Individual Continuing Education Programs

Submitted by a planning director or planning staff member with the appropriate educational requirements.

The primary applicant or staff member organizing the training must meet the minimal educational requirements of at least an undergrad degree, plus 5 years' experience in the planning field.

Individuals Needing Continuing Education:

Each county or municipal governing body is responsible for arranging 3-hours of continuing education training each year for their staff, planning, zoning, and architectural review officials. If individuals seek to complete their annual 3-hours of CE training independently, note that books or self-directed (home study) courses are not approved. All trainings must be completed with an Approved Continuing Education Sponsor or with an Approved Continuing Education Instructor.

Individuals considering a CE training for credit must make sure that the particular training is being hosted by an approved sponsoring organization and that the training topic covers at least one of the CE subjects listed in Section 6-29-1340 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. At the completion of the training the sponsoring organization must provide a completion certification that the individual is then responsible for submitting to their local governing body.

1. land use planning;

2. zoning;

3. floodplains;

4. transportation;

5. community facilities;

6. ethics;

7. public utilities;

8. wireless telecommunications facilities;

9. parliamentary procedure;

10. public hearing procedure;

11. administrative law;

12. economic development;

13. housing;

14. public buildings;

15. building construction;

16. land subdivision; and

17. powers and duties of the planning commission, board of zoning appeals, or board of architectural review.

Note: Books or self-directed (home study) courses are not approved

Note 2: Applications are due no later than 30 days prior to the first scheduled presentation of a program or class. The Committee will consider extenuating circumstances where the 30 day deadline cannot be met.